FRISCO, Texas (August 2, 2012)- US Youth Soccer is proud to announce that Des Moines, Iowa and Iowa Soccer Association as hosts of the 2013 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships as part of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. The games will take place at the James W. Cownie Sports Complex.

The championships are expected to draw more than 3,500 players and an estimated 12,000 spectators.

The US Youth Soccer Region II Championships consist of US Youth Soccer State Champions from 14 states, including the host Iowa Soccer Association, drawn wildcard entries as well as US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League Premier Division wildcard teams. Following individual state championship tournaments, the regional championships are the second leg of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series.

The tournament will attract more than 212 boys and girls teams, ages Under-13 through Under-19, from the 14 Midwestern US Youth Soccer State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region II (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio South, Ohio North, South Dakota and Wisconsin).

"It is always exciting to begin planning future US Youth Soccer Regional Championships, and part of that initial planning is choosing the best possible host city for each of our four regional championships," said John Sutter, President of US Youth Soccer. "Des Moines was a great host for the 2007 US Youth Soccer Region II Championships, and we look forward to working with them again in 2013 for an even better tournament."

Regional winners of the Under-13 through Under-19 brackets earn a berth to the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships.

The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series gives US Youth Soccer teams the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play.

Annually the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation’s top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country. In 2012, more than 600 coaches attended the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships including several top-10 programs including the University of North Carolina, Louisville and the University of Virginia.

To learn more about the US Youth Soccer log on to USYouthSoccer.org. For more about the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series log on to http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org, the online home for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, providing the latest in news, information and more.

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About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!®" is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.

Media Request: When referring to the United States Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in the United States, please refer to the association only as US Youth Soccer, and never as USYS or USYSA. We appreciate your cooperation.

About the US Youth Soccer National Championship SeriesThe US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer's 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their abilities against the best in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The yearlong competition begins with over 185,000 players in the US Youth Soccer State Championships. These champions and selected wildcard teams, through US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues, advance to compete in one of four the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. Champions (U-13 through U-19) from each regional event advance to the National Championships. The Under-15 through 17 Boys and Girls age groups have two teams representative of the US Youth Soccer National League, in which the top two teams in each gender age group earn a direct path to the national championships. Overall the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation's top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country.

Media Request: When referring to the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the most prestigious event in youth sports, please refer to the event as US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on first reference and National Championship Series on anything thereafter. Never refer to as NCS or USYS NCS. We appreciate your cooperation.